Instrument for removing floor-boards singly.



' Patented May `20, |902.

J. M. CAMMACK.

'INSTRUMENT FR REHOVING FLOOR BARDS SINGLY.

(Applicato led Jan. 21. 1901.)

v(No Model.)

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INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY me Nonms Pfzns ca. many-uwe.. wAsNinmnN. D. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

JAMES MICHAEL CAMMACK, OESUMMI'I, NEV JERSEY.

INSTRUMENT FOR REMOVING FLOOR-BOARDS SINGLY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,169, dated May 20,1902.

Application filed January 2l, 1901. Serial No. 44,054. (No model.)

.To all whom, 7115 muy concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs MICHAEL CAM- MACK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Summit, county ofvUnion, State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Instrument for Removing Floor-Boards Singly,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for removing one board at a time from afioor or ceiling or other place where boards have been laid in bank orseries,tonguedandgrooved together, and nailed to secure them in placeand to do so without injuring the boards contiguous thereto. At thepresent time in removing ilooring made of tongued and grooved or matchedboard for any purpose whatever it is necessary to destroy or Inutilateseveral boards.

To this end my invention consists in an instrument fully specifiedherein and Claimed at the end of this specification.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay understand, construct, and use my invention, I will proceed todescribe it, referring to the drawings herewith, in which- Figure l isan elevation of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central partsection thereof in side view. A is the handle and holder, usually ofwood. B is a thin sheetmetal blade, usually of steel, set in the holder.b represents screws to hold the blade B in place in holder A. C is ametal key or resistance-plate to receive and take up the shock of blowsgiven in use.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a tongued-andgrooved iiooring, showing theinstrument in use. E represents the boards. F represents the tonguesmatched into the grooves G. H represents the nails used to secure theboards E to the beams or underflooring J, as the case may be.

In removing one board from its neighbors the blade B is driven betweenthe two contiguous boards, and so cuts the tongue away successively fromone end of the board to the other by repeated insertions and blows uponthe holder A. The resistance-plate C receivn ing the shock prevents themetal blade B from spliting the holder A. The blade B is insertedbetween' the two contiguous boards at a slight angle vertically, andafter cutting I away the tongueEand part of thebottom of the board by adepression of the holder the board from which the tongue has been cutaway and released from its neighbor is free to be raised and is raisedand the said board is easily removed. This operation is quickly effectedand much time is saved'thereby over the old method and the board can bereplaced without in any way impairing the firmness or appearance of thefloor. Plumbers and gas iitters and electric-light men are frequentlycalled upon to use such an instrument, and my invention lills along-felt want.

At the base of the holder A on each side of the blade B, I place a pieceof soft material lD to prevent injury to the ioor in case the holderaccidentally comes in Contact therewith with the force of the blow inoperation.

Having now fully described my invention and the manner in which Ihaveembodied it, what I claim as new and as my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

An instrument for removing door-boards singly,consisting of andcomprising,a wooden handle; A, having comparatively thin blade B; and atransverse resistance-plate C, wide enough to resist the thrust of saidblade, and the lower end of said handle having bafflecushions D,substantially as, and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of December, 1900;

JAMES MICHAEL CAMMACK.

Witnesses:

A. W. HICKS, E. PIERPCN'I HICKS.

